Fence-post



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. URUMP.

. PENGE POST.

No. 303,625. Patented Aug. 19, 1884.

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WITNESSES: I lNVENTEI RI (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. GRUMP.

PBNOE POST.

Patented Aug. 19, 1884.

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' Wz'lnsses: V Inventor."

Z g 4 I UNITED STATE PATENT OFF CE.

JOHN CRUMP, ()F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 303,625, dated August 19, 1884.

Application filed January 31, I883. (No model.)

To all whom it'may concern:

Be it known that I, J OIIN ORUMP, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Posts and Fences, of which the following isaspecification.

My invention relates to fence-posts; andthe invention consists of a post made of slate and provided with a metallic cap carrying devices for supporting the strands of wire, all as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a post embodying my invention; and Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same shown partly in section. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the top of a post, showing a simple form of the cap for general use; and Figs. etand 5 are front and vertical sectional views, respectively, of portions of a post having caps of a modified construction with the guard-wires attached. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the cap detached.

The construction of fences throughout the country necessitates an enormous expenditure, and the fact that the posts, and until recently the body also of the fence, have usually been made of wood, which soon decays, has added immensely to their cost, as they must be constantly repaired or replaced entire.

The primary object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a post for use in the construction of fences, and which may also be used for other purposes, that shall be practically indestructible, and in connection therewith to provide means for securing the wires or bars to be used for forming the body of the fence to such posts, and, when desired, providing guards for preventing the barbed wire used from injuring the live stock. In order to accomplish these results I make the body A of my improved post of slate or similar argillaceous stone, which, as is well known, exists in large quantities, and can be easily and cheaply furnished of the required size and form. Posts formed of this material, owing to the ease with which it is split, would be liab? e to be soon destroyed, because experiment has demonstrated that the insertion of aknifeblade or any sharp or pointed instrument, or even a blow on its end,will cause itto splitinto pieces or fragments, especially when its fissures used unprotected as a post.

or seams are filled with moisture or frost, and in some cases the freezing and consequent expansion of the moisture in the seams will of itself rupture the stone, and more especially so when standing vertically with its end exposed to the elements, as it necessarily would when To obviate this difficulty I provide a cap, B, which may be made of metal or any material that is both fire and water-proof, and so constructed as to fit over the upper or exposed end of the post A in such a manner as to inclose and protect the same, asshown in the several figures from 1 to 5, inclusive.

One of the simplest and cheapest forms of cap is that shown in Fi 3, in which it is represented as being made of sheet iron, and of such a size as to cover the end or top of the post, and have a flange, 17,. projecting downward on all four sides, thus encircling the post at its end like a hoop. In this case I have shown thecap B as being secured to the post by an eyebolt, I, which also serves to support the wire L; but it may be fastened by other means, if desired.

In Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown the cap B as being made of castiron, it being provided with an internal shoulder to rest on the top of the post, while the part below encircles the post, the same as does the flange 12 in the former case. In this instance the cap is shown secured to the post A by a transverse bolt, 0, on the end of which is a nut, (0, preferably so constructed that it cannot be unscrewed by an ordinary wrench or tool, the object being to prevent their being tampered with by boys or malicious persons.

To secure the fence-wire L to the top of the cap, I provide an eyebolt, D, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which extends from the top down into the cap, and preferably through a lug, J, formed on its interior, where it is secured by a nut, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be observed that the hole in which the eye of this bolt D fits is made of such a shape and size as to permit the eye or bent portion to be drawn down into it, so that itcannot be pried open to release the wire L.

In that case it will of course be necessary to insert the wire in the eye of the bolt, place the latter in position, and screw up the nut be fore securing the cap upon the body A. It is obvious, however, that instead of the bolt D a small wrought-iron eye or staple may be placed in the mold in such a manner as to be embedded in the molten metal when the latter is poured. into the mold to form the cap B. In case plain wire be used the strand can be readily passed through this eye or staple; but in case barbed wire be used it will be necessary to use an eye or hook open at one side, so that the wire can be slipped in at the open ing, after which the eye or hook can be hammered down or otherwise closed upon the wire and made to hold it securely in place. Other forms of fastening may of course be used, if desired.

To secure the wire at other points on the posts, I make holes through the post and insert eyebolts or hooks I, asshown in Figs. 2 and 4, the hole being countersunk, so as to permit the eye, after the wire L has been inserted, to be drawn into the countersink, and

thus prevent the eye from being opened. The nut a used on this eyebolt may, if desired, be fitted into a recess, as shown in Fig. i, to render it more secure against displacement or removal.

One serious objection to the use of the barbed wire is the injury to stock, more es pecially horses, by the barbs, this injury arising in nearly all cases from the barbs 011 the top wire of the fence by the animals attempting to get over the same, or by their resting their necks or heads over or on the samea habit more especially common to horses. In order to prevent injury from this source, I provide the cap B, when desired,

with "laterally-projecting arms 0, as represented in Figs. 4 or 5, or in any similar manner, for the purpose of supporting at each side a plain wire, P, which thus serves as a guard to keep the animals away from the barbed wire, especially at the top. IVhen the plain sheet-iron cap shown in Fig. 3 is used, a proj ecting arm or small rod maybe used for supporting the plain wire, said arm or red being secured to the post or cap in any suitable manner. A simple plan wouldbe to elongate the eyebolt I of Fig. 3 and provide it with two eyesan outer one for the plain wire and one close to the post for the barbed wire.

It will readily be seen that by means of the cap B the stone body will be fully protected from injury arising from the causes hereinbefore stated, and that thus I am able to pro duce a fence-post which will last for an un limited period, and which will neither rot, rust, nor burn.

IVhile galvanized shcet-iron and cast-iron are the most obvious materials for making these caps, they may e made of other materialsuch, for instance, as paper-pulp,

which can be readily molded or pressed into the required shape, the same being rendered water-proof, or both water and fire proof, if desired, by means well known, and there- So, too,

fore unnecessary to describe herein.

it is obvious that instead of making the cap to cover the entire top, as represented in Fig. 3, it may be made with its central top portion open, it in that case resembling merely a rectangular band having an inwardly-projecting flange to rest upon the top of the stone, as shown in Fig. 6. As, however, the difference in cost would be but little, and as such a cap would not protect the end fully from the weather, I prefer to make it as shown in 'Fig. 3, so as to cover the entire top of the stone part A.

Vhile I have thus far spoken of the post as being used for ordinary farm-fences, it is obvious that it is equally well adapted for use instead of the iron posts ordinarily used in the construction of iron fences or railings used in cities for inclosing residences, public grounds and buildings, cemeteries, and the like. So, too, they may be used for gateposts, hitchingposts, posts for supporting clotheslines, and all similar purposes; and as this kind of stone is very strong transversely, and can be procured without difficulty in lengths of twenty-five feet or more, they can be used for telegraph-posts and all similar purposes.

In constructing these posts for ordinary farm-fences, the body A may be made from two by six to four by eight inches transverely and of any required length, and will be perfectly plain; but when used for other purposes they may have their corners beveled, or be made octagonal in whole or in part, and thus rendered more ornamental. One great advantage of such a post is that its body does not require to be painted, and will not rustor burn, and is therefore specially well adapted for use along railways, where much loss is" annually occasioned by the burning of the wooden fences generally used. It will of course be understood that the caps may be made in any style desired, and thus be rendered more or less ornamental, according to the special use for which the posts are designed.

Having thus full y described my invention, what I claim is 1. The stone post A, in combination with the cap 13, having a flange projecting down ward to fit over the upper or exposed end of the post in such a manner as to inelose and protect the same, said cap being provided with the eyebolt D orequivalent device for supporting a central wire strand, L, substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with the stone post A, the metallic cap B, having a flange projecting downward to fit over the upper or exposed end of the post in such a manner as to inclose and protect the same, said eap'being provided with the arms 0, for supporting guard-wires I at the sides, substantially as shown and described.

JOHN CRUMP.

Vitnesses:

()RMOND RAMBO, CHARLES L. CRUMP. 

